A Labor Day salute to the employees of Grace Brothers Department Store


In the United States, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Are you Being Served

While the holiday weekend also tends to signal the end of summer and, thankfully, widely considered to be the absolute last day of the year when it is considered ‘fashionable’ to wear white, we can’t let the long weekend pass by without paying tribute to some of the hardest working friends across the pond…the staff of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothing departments of Grace Brothers.

Captain Peacock – Floorwalker, Grace Brothers

Mrs. Betty Slocombe – Head of Ladies’ Intimate Apparel

Miss Shirley Brahms – Junior Assistant, Ladies’ Intimate Apparel

Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries – Senior Assistant, Menswear

Mr. Lucas – Junior Salesman, Menswear

Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold – Floor Manager

Mr. Ernest Grainger – Senior Salesman, Menswear

Having had the great good fortune over the years being part of the PBS productions of Celebrating Mollie Sugden, Funny Ladies of British Comedy and Funny Blokes of British Comedy, it’s hard to believe that the entire cast of Are You Being Served are no longer with us. They will, however, continue to make the world smile for years to come each day they report to work at Grace Brothers.

We salute the staff of Grace Brothers Department Store on Labor Day 2018!


In: Actors/Actresses,Comedy

  • jt

    I did not realise until I reached the end of the article that all of the cast members have passed now. I thought Frank Thornton and Trevor Bannister were still with us. It is so sad to know they are all gone now. It hardly seems possible. Mollie and John were my favourite characters, and I cannot help but smile to think of them. All of these folks will go on living in our hearts and on our tellies for the rest of our lives. They have bequeathed us a legacy of laughter for which we are all grateful, indeed. I know heaven is a much jollier place right now, and I am unanimous in that!